Donegal and Derry Showcase in Boston as hubs of Creativity and Culture

Golden Bridges Boston

Golden Bridges Boston

Donegal and Derry will showcase as hubs of creativity and culture at the annual Golden Bridges events in Boston, hosted by the Irish Echo newspaper, in Boston on 10-11 November.

Among the high-profile American participants will be Senator Therese Murray, President of the Massachusetts Senate, House of Representatives Majority Whip Charles Murphy and award-winning entrepreneur Frank Reynolds.

Among those pitching for Donegal and Derry will be County Donegal Mayor Cllr Noel McBride, Derry hotelier Garvan O’Doherty and Barry Henderson of Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC) at Altnagelvin.

The events will build on the success of the Gateways to Tomorrow conference in Boston in 2009 which spotlighted Northwest Ireland to a new generation of Irish American leaders in the Boston area. This year’s events will kick off with a Showcase Seminar at the prestigious Seaport Hotel on Thursday 10 November which is being backed by the two leading Irish American business associations in Massachusetts, the Boston Irish Business Association and the Irish American Partnership.

On 11 November, visitors from Ireland will be guests of honour at business breakfast at the University of Massachusetts Lowell before returning to Boston for the annual Golden Bridges awards luncheon. As part of the Veterans Day celebration, Gerry Adams will take part in “A Conversation with Kevin Cullen” of the Boston Globe during the lunchtime celebration. This will be Adams’ first visit to Boston since he became TD for Co. Louth.

Events will conclude with a Roundtable hosted by Rep Eugene O’Flaherty in the State House that afternoon.
Irish Echo President Máirtín Ó Muilleoir says he hopes the engagement will boost tourism, investment, trade and partnerships between Northwest Ireland and Massachusetts. “I hope we can build on this initiative to bring the biggest delegation to Northwest Ireland from Boston in a decade this coming year, followed by a major initiative from Boston towards the Derry City of Culture 2013 initiative.”

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Riverdance’s Moya Doherty at Magee

Moya Doherty at Magee

Moya Doherty at Magee

Wednesday 12th October 8pm
Great Hall – Magee University
Nothland Road, Derry
Tel: (028) 7167 545

Admission is free and everyone is welcome

Moya Doherty’s career includes theatre, radio and television production and presentation, both in Ireland and internationally. She fronted a number of arts, features and documentary programmes for RTÉ Television and also for TV-AM, the British breakfast television network. She is an award-winning television documentary maker, having won a Jacob’s Award for her work on A Silent Scream. As Executive Producer Moya produced a number of charity telethons, the Eurovision Song Contest and the televising of the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics held in Ireland in 2001.
And here’s a quick reminder…

Global Irish Homecoming in 2013

Hopefully, County Donegal and other western counties are set for an upsurge in tourist numbers leading up to 2013.

A global Irish “homecoming” which has been billed as the biggest tourism initiative ever staged in Ireland has been unveiled.
 

 
The Gathering will be a year-long event in 2013 and the Government is anticipating it will attract as many as 325,000 extra visitors into Ireland.

Such a spike in visitor numbers would add another €220 million to the Irish economy.

Unveiling the Gathering at the Global Irish Forum in Dublin Castle, the Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar described it as an “invitation to the world to come and join in Ireland’s renewal”.

The initiative has come from Fáilte Ireland, whose chief executive Shaun Quinn has described it as a “compelling vehicle” to tap into the wider Irish diaspora.

Every town and village in Ireland will be asked to participate in the Gathering which will be aimed first of all at the Irish diaspora, then people with an interest in Ireland and people at home.

A renewed interest in Irish roots, particularly following the publication of the 1901 and 1911 censuses, will also be accommodated during the Gathering.

The Gathering will be organised around a series of festivals, both existing and new.

County and city managers will be the key enablers for the programme supported by Fáilte Ireland’s destination project managers and regional teams.

The programme will be formally launched on St Patrick’s Day and a number of special events will take place at that time leveraging high-profile people from Ireland.

There will be a strong emphasis on promoting the event through social media with a view to creating a buzz about the events.

Tourism Ireland will lead the promotion of the Gathering abroad while Fáilte Ireland will promote it at home.

Former Irish diplomat Dr Tim O’Connor will chair the board overseeing the event.

He said: “In order to succeed. the Gathering will be the last word in joined-up thinking. It will require the input of every agency and every parish and its success is ultimately down to us.”

More Details: www.worldirish.com

 
 

Mental Health Week in Donegal

World Mental Health Week runs from 10th – 16th October and this year a variety of events will take place throughout Donegal, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Clare, Mayo and Galway to highlight the importance of positive mental health.

Mental Health Week in Donegal

Mental Health Week in Donegal

 

The theme for the week is ‘Building Resilience Together’.

According to Bill Vaughan, Mental Health Ireland ‘resilience is about the ability to ‘bounce back’ from difficulties and have the strength to change and adapt to new circumstances.’

He said: “Considering that we are all facing more and more challenges it is vital that we practice ways to build our resilience. That way we can maintain good mental health even in the face of difficulties.”

World Mental Health Week provides an opportunity to show case initiatives promoting mental health in the county. Anne Sheridan, Mental Health Promotion officer, HSE said: ‘Many groups and organisations around the county are doing fantastic work in the area of positive mental health. There is no doubt that it is a major concern in communities at the moment and the array of events during this week will certainly put the spotlight on the many ways in which community, voluntary and statutory services can provide support.”

She added: “I am particularly thrilled to see the work going on in a number of schools this week because schools are an important place for young people to learn the skills for good mental health”

One of the week’s events will involve Donegal Youth Council developing postcards with ‘tips to unwind your mind’ for distribution around the county.

Marie Duffy from Donegal Youth Council said: “It is great to see young people taking an active role in promoting positive mental health in their schools. Promoting positive mental health is a top priority for Donegal Youth Council and they have been working hard to reduce the stigma associated with it.”

In Galway, the Mental Health Association of Ballinasloe is organising a free Trialogue Meeting in Haydens Hotel, Ballinasloe from 7pm – 8.30pm. A Trialogue is a facilitated circle of conversations that offers people unique opportunities to freely and safely share their own experiences, stories or questions about mental health. More details from Gerry Blake, HSE West on 087 418 3139.

In Clare there will be a range of interesting events to attend, such as ‘Laughter Yoga’ at An Grianán Resource Centre which will take place on the 10th Oct.

So, whether it is going for a walk or listening to a talk… a cup of tea and a chat, or yoga on a mat …laughter at your lunch, or joining a new bunch – do something to acknowledge Mental Health Week …. you’re worth it !

Christmas at The Beach House

Christmas at the Beach House Buncrana – delightful waterfront treasure & with spectacular views over Lough Swilly an enchanting & romantic destination

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The Saldanah – 200th Anniversary

Published in Derry Journal on Friday 7 October 2011 12:15

Preparations are underway to mark the 200th anniversary of the sinking of the HMS Saldanha, one of the greatest sea tragedies along these shores, with the loss of more than 250 lives. The navy ship was caught in a violent storm, and it’s thought she was attempting to return her anchorage in Lough Swilly on the Inishowen peninsula when she struck rocks near Fanad Head. She finally ran aground near Ballymastocker Strand. According to the story, the captain and his parrot survived – the captain to die on the shore after being given a drink of poitin, and the parrot shot in a local garden.

Go to > Saldanah Commemoration Facebook Page

It’s only a matter of weeks now to the 200th anniversary of one of the loss at sea of the HMS Saldanha, one of the most famous wrecks of Lough Swilly.

The day was December 4th, 1811. A sea war was going on between Britain and France, and there had already been some violent storms that winter.

The Saldhana

The Saldhana was Royal Navy warship weighing 951 tons and armed with 36 canons. It was built by Temple and Sons in South Shields in 1809. The ship was given its name from the battle of Saldanha Bay in South Africa in 1796.

Entrusted with the running of this warship at just 29 years of age was a youthful Captain William Pakenham, the son of a well-known naval commander, the second Baron Longford of Pakenham Hall in Westmeath. Captain Pakenham’s family were at the centre of world events around this time – his brother Edward was to command British forces in North America and died in the Battle of New Orleans in 1814, while his brother-in-law Sir Arthur Wellesley was to become the Duke of Wellington, victor of one of the greatest battles in history, Waterloo, in 1815.

Captain Pakenham had previously been captain of the HMS Greyhound when she wrecked off the coast of Luzon in the Philippines on the 4th of October 1808. In that wrecking only one seaman died and the survivors reached Manila.

The Role of the Saldanha

The role of the Saldanha was to patrol the waters around the south of the Irish coast as part of the continental blockade against Napoleonic France. In an article about the tragedy, the Times newspaper reported on the 14th of December that the Saldanha left Cork to sail Donegal on the 19th of November, her mission being to relieve the HMS Talbot and Endymion which were stationed at Lough Swilly.

The Saldanha left Loughs Swilly in the company of HMS Talbot on the 30th of November to go on a twenty day joint patrol. The Talbot was a smaller class of warship under the command of Captain Swaine. The ships took a westerly course. According to accounts from crew on the Talbot, featured in the 1838 book ‘Chronicles of the Sea’, strong gales had been blowing for three days during this patrol. Although faced with challenging seas, both ships were able to cope with these conditions.

It all suddenly changed on the 4th of December. A midshipman on the Talbot reported that there was “tremendous sea, which threatened to overwhelm us, accompanied by piercing showers of hail, and a gale which blew with incredible fury”. It is thought that upon realising the danger of their predicament, both ships took a southerly route in an attempt to make their way back into Lough Swilly to find shelter.

Last Sighting

The last sighting of the Saldhana was by crew members of the Talbot in the signal tower. They reported seeing the lights of the ship at 9 o’clock on that Wednesday night. Dramatic accounts document that the Saldanha turned to head across the Lough and was forced by violent seas to strike the rocks at Carrickadonnel. After this she broached and became engulfed in the swirling surf of Ballymastocker Bay.

As she rolled on her side the guns and other heavy equipment broke loose and caused havoc below the deck. The already damaged hull was rapidly broken in two as powerful waves pounded her. Survivors of this savage ordeal then took their chances to swim for land but were soon overcome by the freezing waters crashing on to Ballymastocker strand.

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The first indications for the crew of the Talbot that the Saldhana had met a tragic end were given at first light on Thursday morning. A member of the ship’s crew observed by telescope a flurry of chaos and excitement occurring on Ballymastocker strand. They reported that the beach was littered with over two hundred bodies and debris from the ship. Local people had also flooded the beach to inspect the sight. Members of the Lanark militia were eventually observed to come on to the beach to secure the area

Captain Packenham

Local folklore recounts that Captain Packenham survived the wreck and was given whiskey or poitin on the beach by a local to revive him. This apparently killed him. Packenham was laid to rest in the Rathmullen Priory burial ground, where his gravestone stands.

Captain Pakenham's grave in Rathmullan

Captain Pakenham's grave in Rathmullan

Another famous tale tells us about a local farmer – or a servant at a local house – finding a strange bird in the garden a few days after the wreck, which he shot. It transpired that the unfortunate bird was a parrot who was reportedly wearing a collar inscribed with the words ‘Captain Pakenham of His Majesty’s Ship Saldanha’. The parrot was the last surviving member of the Saldanha compliment to perish.

One salvageable section of the ship that was recycled by the locals was its huge mast. It was sawn in half and used in the building of an extension to the Old Meeting House in Ramelton which was being undertaken at the time. The mast can still be seen in the building, now a library and well-known for its connection with local man Rev. Francis Makemie, founder of US Presbyterianism.

Fanad Lighthouse

A prominent structure built in response to the Saldanha disaster was Fanad Head lighthouse. Its light first illuminated the dark waters of Lough Swilly on St Patrick’s Day of 1816.

More recently, the ship’s anchor was brought up in the fishing nets of a local trawler and was placed in a garden. The anchor was then acquired by the West Inishowen History and Heritage group. It was cleaned up and presented to Fort Dunree Military museum in August. It is now on display. The Office of Public Works are due to restore the anchor to its full glory.

It’s thought other mementos of the ill-fated Saldanha are still in Donegal, and an appeal has gone out for information on them for the 200th anniversary commemorations.

More Details on The Saldanah